South Dakota Department of Transportation
Project Synopsis
SD1993-14

Problem Statement:Pavement life-cycle curves are a necessary building block in all pavement management systems. Reliable and accurate curves are required to perform advanced analysis, predict performance, and provide various budget scenarios now required for present-day pavement management systems.

South Dakotas existing pavement management system uses two curves that were developed in the late 1970s. The curves drive many of the Departments decisions regrarding highway construction and rehabilitation, but in recent years, certain shortcomings have been identified. For example, the asphalt curve predicts and eighteen year life expectancy for all asphalt pavement types and thicknesses, but field observations contradict this assumption. Likewise, the thirty-three year curve for PCC pavements does not agree with field experience, nor does it predict when pavement restoration should be performed.